against my own thoughts. Liam continued his campaign. Flowers arrived daily, gourmet l

wers. I gave the food to the security guard. I took the sub

er without judgment. I could watch terrible reality TV for hours. I could

on, Ben Car

Liam's a mess. He's not eating, he's not

oblem, Ben," I sa

he Belmont tonight. Just come have on

ad his chance

a friend. I'm w

foolish part, wanted to believe that maybe this time would

a corner booth before they saw me. Liam, Ben, a

en by the crowd, and I could

e was saying, swirling the wine in her gl

's crazy about him. She just

iscussing me like I was a faulty applianc

atorial whisper. "Do you remember in college, how you tried so hard

mortified. "

hame I was so hung up on that stupid art

tless. I thought you were going to follow

weren't my style. The trips he planned to places I had no interest in but that Chloe had

to date me was too sudden, too out of character. Now I knew why. He had just b

ed him. I had made myself believe his cool detachment was just his personality. It wasn't. It was

id, patting Liam's hand. "A bit... si

iam said, but his def

head. "The way she freaked out about the fire

I couldn't li

ind the pillar and wal

up to me. Their faces were

d directly at Ben. "Is that what you think? I'd love to h

beet red. "Ava, I.

y voice dripping with ice. "Stop

id, standing up. "Le

hree of them. "A little reunion. The man who abandoned me, the woman he's se

oe said, her eyes wide

ir? Let's talk about how Liam pursued you for years. Let's talk abou

ent pale. "Th

ell me it's not true, Liam. Look me in the ey

jaw working. He couldn't say it.

coalesced into a single, decisive action. I picked up m

. Water dripped from his h

d a vow. "And this time, it's not a n

or Chloe's shocked face o

was just the moment I finally opened my eyes. It's about the years of lies.

first time, I felt free. I turned around and walked out